When you set up your Bitkey wallet, an encrypted version of your App Key is created and stored in your personal cloud account — iCloud for iOS or Google Drive for Android.
Because the key is encrypted by your Bitkey hardware before it’s uploaded, it’s of no use on its own. Even if a hacker or cloud provider were to gain access to the backup, there’s nothing they can do with it — it remains unusable ciphertext until it’s decrypted. This ensures that your App Key remains private and protected, even in the cloud.
Cloud Recovery is the process of decrypting your App Key backup to restore access to your wallet if you ever lose or replace your phone. It allows you to regain access to your wallet securely—without relying on seed phrases or exposing sensitive information.
How can you decrypt the App Key stored in the cloud?
There are two secure ways to decrypt your cloud-stored App Key backup:
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Using your Bitkey hardware device
If you still have your hardware device, recovery is fast and simple.
Just install the Bitkey app on your new phone, sign into your cloud account, and use your hardware device to decrypt the backup. This restores access to your wallet in just a minute or two.
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With help from a Recovery Contact
If you’ve lost both your phone and your hardware device, you won’t be able to decrypt the App Key backup on your own. But if you previously set up a Recovery Contact, they can help.
When your Recovery Contact accepted your invitation, Bitkey established a secure recovery mechanism that allows their Bitkey app to help decrypt your App Key backup later if recovery is needed.
During recovery, you retrieve the encrypted backup from your cloud account and contact your Recovery Contact. After verifying your identity, Bitkey uses the tool stored by their app to help decrypt the backup so you can restore access to your wallet.
🔐 Security tip: Recovery Contacts cannot access your wallet or your App Key. They only help decrypt the backup during a recovery that you initiate and approve.
Important things to know
🔁 Cross-platform recovery is not currently supported.
You can only recover your wallet using the same operating system (Android or iOS) and cloud account used during setup.
Cloud Recovery is one of the ways Bitkey helps you recover securely while staying in control of your wallet.
To learn more about recovery options:
👉 What recovery methods are available?
👉 What recovery methods are available?